Rowell Ortman Tofte

Rowell Ortman Tofte, 83, passed away peacefully on September 4, 2025, in Billings, Montana.

Rowell was born on January 15, 1942, in Rugby, North Dakota, to Roy Theodore Tofte and Olga Cecillia (Kilen) Tofte. He grew up with a deep appreciation for people, hard work, and mechanical things-values that shaped his life and touched the lives of all who knew him.

Rowell pursued his education at Great Falls High School, Modesto Junior College, the College of Great Falls, and Eastern Montana College. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1962 as a Hospital Corpsman, stationed in Bridgeport, California, and Adak, Alaska.

Rowell's career path was as diverse as it was expansive. He worked for Boeing, several commercial trucking companies, various insurance firms, and numerous car dealerships. But beyond his professional endeavors, Rowell was best known for his vibrant spirit and boundless curiosity.

Above all else, Rowell was a true people person. He greeted everyone with a smile, waved at strangers passing by, and could strike up a conversation with anyone. He made friends wherever he went and was always quick to lend a helping hand-whether to a longtime friend or someone he'd just met.

Rowell had a lifelong passion for automobiles. As children, he and his brother Ellis would sneak into the local Nash dealership after hours just to admire the cars. That love never faded. His first car was a 1931 Ford Model A sedan, followed by a 1948 Pontiac fastback. Over the years, Rowell owned more than 500 vehicles, each one a project, a passion, and a story. He had a remarkable talent for finding cars in need of some love, fixing them up, and passing them along-often to someone who admired it as much as he did. Car shows with Rowell were both educational and entertaining; his knowledge of automotive history was second to none.

On December 23, 1967, Rowell married Marilyn Kay Trebas in Great Falls, Montana. Their love and partnership spanned nearly six decades.

Rowell is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn; their sons Daquiri Tofte (Ashley) and Satarri Tofte (Tori); and his grandchildren Macayela Blackhorse, Traxler Tofte, and Taimber Tofte. He is also survived by his siblings Denise Shorman (John), Ellis Tofte (Pam), and Corrie Barrett (Wade); cousin Deb Smith (Clyde); and many extended family members and friends whose lives he enriched.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Olga Tofte.

Rowell's legacy is one of kindness, generosity, curiosity, and a contagious enthusiasm for life. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to perform a random act of kindness in Rowell's honor-or strike up a friendly conversation with a stranger, just as he would have.